Test regulars named in India A squad for England tour
The squad will compete in three four-day red-ball fixtures as multiple first-team players look to get important minutes ahead of the five-Test series.
BCCI has unveiled the India A squad set to tour England for three first-class fixtures ahead of the much-anticipated Test series against England beginning next month.
The touring side will take on the England Lions in two matches scheduled to be held in Canterbury and Northampton.
Thereafter, the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led side will compete in an intra-squad encounter against the senior Indian men's team.
Notably, top-order batters Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are slated to join the squad ahead of the second match.
India A squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (Vice-Captain & WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.
While the seasoned opener Abhimanyu Easwaran will take charge of the squad, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has been appointed as vice-captain.
The squad also features some promising young talent in Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, who impressed during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as well as experienced campaigners like Karun Nair, who has been recalled after an impressive showing in the domestic cricket and the ongoing Indian Premier League season.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was ruled out of the ongoing IPL season due to a hairline fracture has also been included in the squad for the three games.
These three games will prove valuable ahead of India taking on Ben Stokes and Co in a five-match Test series, that marks the beginning of the next World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Meanwhile, England have roped in former Kiwi quick Tim Southee as a consultant ahead of the rollicking Test series against India.
India A fixtures
England Lions v India A - May 30-June 2, Canterbury
England Lions v India A - June 6-9, Northampton
Intra-squad match - June 13-16, Beckenham
England v India Test series schedule
First Test - June 20-24, Headingley
Second Test - July 2- 6, Edgbaston
Third Test - July 10-14, Lord's
Fourth Test - July 23-27, Old Trafford
Fifth Test - July 31-August 4, The Oval